Tips for Mailing Food Gifts

Send jams, dried fruits and candy via regular mail around December 14, says Emily Olson, cofounder of Foodzie.com, a marketplace for artisan food producers. Olson suggests cushioning any food in a box with biodegradable Mighty 1 Packing Peanuts ($16.25 for large bag; LitinEco.com ), which are made from cornstarch and dissolve in water.

Perishable Foods

Cookies, breads and fresh fruit should always be sent by 2-day mail, says Mo Frechette, managing partner of Zingerman's, a mail-order food business that ships around 50,000 edible products every December. His packing advice: Use more filling than you think you need—you should have to force the box closed. "In transit, packing materials can be compressed by up to 15 percent," he explains.

Highly Perishable Foods

The USDA recommends sending raw meats and soft cheeses overnight. Box food in a small cardboard container, cover with plastic wrap and set in a Styrofoam cooler with ice packs or dry ice on the bottom. Place cooler in a larger box to mail.

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